Last Updated on March 23, 2024 by Tim FitzGerald
I looked at several leading telecare providers – Dec 23
LifeConnect24
- Lifeline Personal Alarm – landline
- Lifeline Fall Detector – landline
- Lifeline SmartLife Personal Alarm – digital
CareLine
- Careline Pendant Alarm – landline
- Careline Fall Alarm – landline
- Careline SmartLife Personal Alarm – digital
Age UK
- Classic Personal Alarm – landline
- Digital Fall Alarm – digital
- Taking Care Anywhere – digital
Taking Care
- Several types of Alarm
Summary
- Each are offering different services, at different prices, but all offer very much the same range of devices for communication.
- Each provider was still selling landline connected devices.
- Each provider offered a device that was capable of digital communications. This device was marketed for connection via the mobile data network, but I understand that the device in question is capable of connection via the internet.
- Most did not address the landline shutdown issue on their websites or specified that any devices were capable of digital communications via the internet.
The exception was Taking Care which says its alarms have been tested. It has a section of its website devote to the Digital Switchover - None addressed the 3G mobile network shutdown issue
There are 1.7 million users of telecare alarms in the UK.
Suppliers
A major UK supplier of telecare products is Tunstall. This company is now (in March 2023) selling a digital (internet-connected) device for its alarm system.
TSA – Trade body for Telecare Providers
There is a good paper on theis trade body’s website discussing the issues of the PSTN shutdown
Digital Shift
Silver Voices has concerns over BT’s plans
Guardian article (Dec 23) – issues with older telecare kit
Telegraph article (Dec 23) – Telecare providers not doing enough
OpenReach may continue to provide analogue services